Crusaders v Chiefs
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="561376" data-time="1456561669">
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<p>I really like the look of Ngatai. Pace, power and skill. Would look good in the AB midfield.</p>
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<p>Was brilliant I thought. The ABs 12 spot certainly is wide open.</p> -
Really really don't like Fonatia. Just stifles the Crusaders back line. Drop him and get Havili into the midfield.
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<p>FUCK YES CHIEFS.</p>
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<p>McKenzie was excellent. I think I heard Sam Cane's name mentioned about twice, lol.</p>
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<p>Justin Marshall is a fucking tool and should be banned from commentating Crusaders games. The manlove for Ellis was getting embarrassing.</p>
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<p>Hope the Crusader who got knocked out is ok. That was a nasty back of head/cheekbone smash, and his head bounced on the ground too.</p> -
<p>All those people who already wrote the Crusaders off before the season started were shown wrong tonight. As a neutral, I think - all things considered - they did play reasonably well. It could have gone either way. We'll never know how the game would have ended if Prinsep had not been stretchered off. Thought Nadolo was disappointing, the young boys Havili and Mo'unga (except for some kicks) did well. Liked what I saw from Tamanivalu and Ngatai. Pity Weber got so little game time.</p>
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<p>Plenty to work on but good to get the win. </p>
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<p>Some of the Chiefs players I had doubts over played well, e.g. Marshall, Tamanivalu. Seta made one poor defensive read but looked dangerous on attack.</p>
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<p>Hoeft needs to sort out the scrum and hopefully Tokolahi starts next week. To put that performance into context, the Chiefs were up against an AB front row and are missing their best scrummaging hooker (Elliot).</p>
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<p>Ngatai is the glue in the outside backs - classy. </p>
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<p>I expect Rennie will make some changes, some may be injury enforced. I hope Stevenson and Sanders' injuries aren't too serious.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mokey" data-cid="561390" data-time="1456563316">
<div>Justin Marshall is a fucking tool and should be banned from commentating Crusaders games. The manlove for Ellis was getting embarrassing.</div>
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<p>Especially when his praise of Ellis' defensive work from one scrum was contradicted by the TV footage. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="561391" data-time="1456563786">
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<p>All those people who already wrote the Crusaders off before the season started were shown wrong tonight. As a neutral, I think - all things considered - they did play reasonably well. It could have gone either way. We'll never know how the game would have ended if Prinsep had not been stretchered off. Though Nadolo was disappointing, the young boys Havili and Mo'unga (except for some kicks) did well. Liked what I saw from Tamanivalu and Ngatai. Pity Weber got so little game time.</p>
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<p>Yeah they will always be competitive and there or there abouts. They're very frustrating to play against which will play into their hands against the Blues next week.</p> -
I'm loving McKenzie. If BB doesn't renew his contract the ABs have a ready made 10/15 impact player
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="561358" data-time="1456559472">
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<p>Yeah what was the commentators comments - you're not allowed people BEHIND the ball???</p>
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<p>They are wrong I think, here is the change of law for this year</p>
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<p>MAUL<br>
Law 17.3<br>
The ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed. A Player is not allowed<br>
to move/slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball (PK).<br>
SUBSTITUTIONS</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Says nothing about not having players behind the ball.<br>
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They were wrong and it's embarrassing. The law is of course as you posted.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="561406" data-time="1456568155">
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<p>They were wrong and it's embarrassing. The law is of course as you posted.</p>
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<p>I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could they possibly interpret it wrong?</p>
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<p>They actually thought that it would be illegal for a maul to have the ball carrier at the front.</p>
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<p>Idiots.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smithy_NZ" data-cid="561337" data-time="1456557823"><p>
Never showed a replay of the alleged foot in touch on the Chiefs attack a few moments before the scrum disintegration</p></blockquote>
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I rewound to check and it was. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="561339" data-time="1456557985"><p>
I went back and had a look - he stood on the line.</p></blockquote>
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What he said
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="561414" data-time="1456587781">
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<p>I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could they possibly interpret it wrong?</p>
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<p>They actually thought that it would be illegal for a maul to have the ball carrier at the front.</p>
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<p><strike>Idiots. </strike>Marshall</p>
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<p>Fixed</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="561481" data-time="1456621662">
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<p>I loved the way McKenzie starts smiling in a kind of sadistic way when the crowd are booing while lining up a kick</p>
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<p>His kicking routine was mentioned last year.</p>
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<p>"It's just to relax me a bit more I guess."</p>
<p>Sometimes the smile is small. Sometimes it's large, and sometimes McKenzie appears to be chuckling as he takes a final look at the posts before stepping up to strike the ball.</p>
<p>He said the things that go through his head include things he sees in the crowd, and they have a bearing on how big the smile is.</p>
<p>"Sometimes a bit of the stuff I see in the crowd makes me laugh a bit more I guess," he said.</p>
<p>"It was actually David Galbraith at the Chiefs who came up with it. We're pretty lucky with him and Andrew Strawbridge helping me with the goal kicking for the last year."</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="561481" data-time="1456621662">
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<p>I loved the way McKenzie starts smiling in a kind of sadistic way when the crowd are booing while lining up a kick</p>
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<p>He is an interesting player , in the age of sporting robots , he certainly has his own personality </p> -
Another high quality nz derby.<br><br>
Was really impressed by Seu on debut. Seemed a lot less raw than he did in ITM Cup. <br><br>
Thought Kerr Barlow was sharp early - Cruden looked great considering the long layoff and Weber looked good too. <br><br>
For Crusaders Mo'unga did well enough to give him another crack. He will be better too when Crotty comes back to midfield. Macilai looked dangerous.<br><br>
Skill level and accuracy was high for round 1. Maybe the longer offseason, proper preseason after World Cup helps in this regard
